The West Africa region offers significant opportunities for U.S. investors and project developers, particularly those seeking to expand into the continent’s energy and mining sectors. A meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and the leaders of Senegal, Mauritania, Gabon, Liberia, and Guinea-Bissau at the White House in July 2025 highlighted these opportunities and paved the way for U.S.-led investment across the region.
The summit marked a shift from aid to trade, with President Trump calling these countries “vibrant places with great minerals, great oil reserves, and great people.” Discussions focused on promoting strategic investment in energy, mining and regional infrastructure. Several major projects in the region are seeking investment partners, highlighting a significant opportunity for U.S. companies.
Senegal: Yakar Teranga Gas Development
The Yakar Teranga offshore field, operated by international oil company Kosmos Energy (90%) in partnership with national oil company Petrosen (10%), is one of the largest gas fields discovered globally in recent years, holding approximately 25 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of recoverable gas. The project, located in the Kayar offshore Profond field, will enter the FEED stage in 2023, with a final investment decision expected by the fourth quarter of 2025.
Production is scheduled for between 2028 and 2029, and both companies are currently looking for partners to join the project. The project will support Senegal’s gas-to-power and industrialization plans, supplying electricity to utilities and industry, including a local urea plant, and expanding export capacity with an expected 10 MPTA LNG facility.
Mauritania: Bir Allah Gas Hub
The Bir Allah offshore gas discovery site, south of the Greater Torchu Ahmaim field, is located entirely in Mauritanian waters and is reported to contain up to 80 TCF of high-grade gas reserves. The field is expected to produce the equivalent of 4 billion cubic feet per day, with the potential to support both domestic power generation and exports through a planned LNG plant at the Port of Ndiago. Initial development costs are estimated at $17 billion, with commercial production expected by 2030 and operations potentially extending to 2062. The Mauritanian government is aggressively promoting the sector internationally, offering tax incentives and investor protection to attract new partners after oil giant BP withdrew from the project schedule.
Guinea-Bissau: Sartinho Hydroelectric Power Plant
Under the regional OMVG program supporting power infrastructure in the MSGBC basin, the Sartinho Flow Hydropower Project on the Corbar River will provide approximately 20 MW of clean renewable electricity to Guinea-Bissau and neighboring countries. Detailed feasibility and environmental studies were completed by a consortium consisting of engineering firms COBA Consultores de Engenharia e Ambiente and Artelia. The estimated total cost of the project is between €60 million and €100 million. The power plant will be connected to Guinea-Bissau via transmission infrastructure and integrated into the broader regional grid, almost doubling the country’s power capacity. Although still in the early stages of development, the project represents cross-border renewable energy cooperation and is poised to facilitate industrial and rural energy access.
Liberia: Nimba Iron Ore Railway and Port Corridor
Liberia aims to revitalize the Nimba railway and port corridor to serve iron ore producers across the region. The $1.8 billion multi-user rail concession signed with Ivanhoe Atlantic in July 2025 is aimed at upgrading the 245km Ekepa-Buchanan line and reopening Liberia’s export corridor. The agreement outlines plans to extend or rehabilitate the corridor to the Guinean border and share corridor access with other users. Previously operated by mining company ArcelorMittal, the railway was underutilized, transporting only 5 million tonnes of ore per year despite a capacity of 22 million tonnes. The revamped corridor positions Liberia as West Africa’s logistics hub, promising increased throughput, regional trade and infrastructure-led growth.
Gabon: Baniaca iron ore mine
Mining company Genmin’s Baniaca iron ore project, located in southeastern Gabon, has a 20-year mining right with full permits, environmental approvals and state support agreements in place. The project, which is initially designed to operate at 5 million tonnes per year and can be expanded to 10 million tonnes, includes a 60 km transport road connecting to the Transgabon Railway’s rail terminal and exports via the Owendo Mineral Port. Initial construction is underway and first commercial production is targeted for late 2026 if funding is secured.
